Fate || BENNIFER

Bad Idea

Jennifer's P.O.V

Never a shower had felt so good. The warm and comforting water streaming down my body worked miraculously to soothe away all the tension I had been feeling. After a whole day of being a nervous wreck, nothing could've been more helpful. However, it didn't last long, getting out of the shower was like returning to reality, the flutter was back.

The way I felt about attending events had changed radically in the previous weeks. I felt like anyone could see through me and know everything. I wasn't good at keeping secrets, in fact, I was an open book. That was the reason for my jitters.

The team arrived shortly after blow-drying my hair to help me get ready for my walk on the red carpet. Ben was there too. He was my biggest support at the moment, loyal to his promise not to leave my side until I got in the car. That wasn't exactly the kind of plan he enjoyed, but he discreetly let me know that he was hoping to catch a glimpse of what was hidden under my robe.

Ben was very intuitive, and he knew me too well, there wasn't a single emotion that I could hide from him. He grabbed my hand and caressed it with his thumb. I turned to him. His face was saying "everything will be alright", but my stomach was saying "it won't".

"I'm so nervous I'm gonna throw up." I said covering my mouth.

"Breathe." He said tightening his grip on my hand. "You've got this."

A session of makeup and an updo later, I was ready to get in the dress. It was one of my favorite dresses I had ever had to wear. That Zuhair Murad with hand-sewn crystals onto a transparent netting base made me feel so beautiful. With the heals already on, I let the white robe fall backwards on the floor.

"I wouldn't mind if you walked around like this." Ben said in a naughty tone.

I bit my lower lip, and I paraded in front of him, gliding over to where the dress was waiting for me. I stepped in with a subtle movement, and with some help, I pulled it up.

"Mmm... the zipper... I can't zip it up."

"Is it stuck?" I asked confused.

"No... it looks like the dress doesn't fit you. But it was custom-made for you last week."

My eyes moved fast to find Ben on my right. The truth is no one could've told I was pregnant by just looking at me, but I was already gaining some pounds, and apparently, most of them over that week between the fitting and the event.

"I've been eating a lot." I tried to sound convincing. "Anxiety... you know."

"Okay... suck it in."

With a little effort and a little help, the zipper slid up. But it was far from comfortable, and that was standing. I didn't know if I would be able to sit in the car without ripping it. Benny took my clutch and walked outside while Ben was the sweetest helping me put on the fluffy white coat.

"I should've said I couldn't attend." I said in a tone of regret.

"Don't say that. You will be great." He said cupping my face.

"It feels too tight. I can barely breathe, and everyone will realize." I said in a childlike tone.

"You look amazing." He kissed my forehead.

We walked outside. I got in the car and he stayed behind, but not before giving me the sweetest kiss. He promised he'd be watching, and I'd be thinking of him.

"You've got this, little." He said blowing me a kiss before I closed the door.

Maybe he was right and all I had to do was stop overthinking and be myself, before I could realize, I'd be home and no one would know anything.

As I set foot on the red carpet, all kinds of thoughts crossed my mind, and most of them induced as a result of my fast and shallow breathing. The dress was mine to keep since it had been custom-made for me, but it had been designed by someone I appreciated, and the idea of tearing it was just adding more pressure to my lungs, which were already agonizing to work and let me breathe. It wasn't the best moment to have a wardrobe malfunction, not in front of hundreds of cameras taking pictures continuously not to miss a thing.

A flashback from the last carpet I had walked was what withdrew my mind from that thought, and suddenly, I was smiling again, but not just physically, as I had been doing since I got out of the car. I was smiling inside, remembering not only how incredibly hot that moment had been but also the joys that decision had brought to our lives so far.

I walked to the front where all the reporters waited to get their short carpet interviews. Many called my name, but the choice was mine to make. I couldn't talk to all of them, but I could take a moment to answer some of their questions.

"Hi, Jennifer. You look gorgeous. Everyone else ceased to exist the moment you came around the corner." The reporter said when I stood in front of him.

"Thank you." I said giggling, as I suddenly felt very shy.

"Is that a Zuhair Murad you're wearing?" He asked.

"Yes! It is, and I love it." I answered.

"Does Ben love it too? What can you tell us about the rumors that you and Ben Affleck have been hooking up?"

I froze for a second. We had been very careful not to be seen together, and very few people knew it. What was I supposed to answer?

"I don't know anything about that." I said trying to convince him.

"Have you seen the pictures?" He said showing me his phone.

In the picture he showed me, Ben was entering my driveway in broad daylight, and Sam was in the back seat. It just took me a second to figure out when that picture had been taken.

"Are you rekindling what you ended ten years ago? Is it true that he's still married?"

I looked around as I started to gasp for air. From the distance, Benny saw I was terrified and that I needed a discreet way out of that interview. He walked fast to me, and grabbing my arm, he thanked the reporter and took us away from that unpleasant position. It had definitely been a bad idea.